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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Oct 02, 2016 06:00 PM Livorno to Pisa....
Livorno, where we docked in the morning is a big port and seside resort with nise promenade of Terazza Mascagni along the sea, little fortress on the coast and few palm - fringed plazas. But it is the gateway to Pisaand Florence, easy acaccessible by train. To get to the Stazione Centrale tale a bus 1 - ticket at tabaconist cost 1,20 eu. Then RT rail ticket to Pisa cost 5,60. The journey will take only 20 min.
Pisa with its cathedral and Leaning Tower is one of the icons of Italian tourism. I have been here 46 years ago, so it was nice to refresh memories and to enjoy again this precious, white afrchitecture. It is quite long walk from the station -like 2 kms - to the tower,, cathedral and huge, ornate baptistry hut you are going through the old town and crossing Arno river. Weather was lovely today so I enjoyed the excursion with my Australian friends very much.
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Oct 01, 2016 06:00 PM Long walk to Marseille...
In the morning our ship arrived to Marseille. Information on the ship is poor - they will tell you how to spend the money, but not how to get to the city on a cheap... They peovide shuttle bus for 17 euro RT. Shame! I took the green line pointed on the ground to get to the port gate. Then you have a choice to take a public bus no. 35 for 1.90 eu (1.60 in the vending machine in the city) or... you have to walk folowing markers Vieux Port. I was walking - it took me 1,5 hour. Let you know that that area could not be safe after sunset...
Marseille of Alexander Dumas from my childhood... Pretty old port, churches, forts at the entrance... I was climbing to the basilica Notre Dame de La Garde overlooking the city from the 162 m hill. Great view! Like 46 years ago when I have been here for the first time... Memories...Little castle- prison d'If on the island is visible, and it seems that they rebuilt it... Comte Monte Cristo, cafes of Canebiere main street.Free 30 m7n wi-fi in the tourist office. I like Marseille!
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Sep 30, 2016 06:00 PM Pamela, Jorge and lovely Barcelona...
In Barcelona I had opportunity to meet two other toptrotters: Pamela Barrus from USA and Jorge Sanchez - my old friend, who lives in Barcelona. Pamela is not only the brave lady-traveller but also very nice person - she made a solo crossing of East Africa and she was a president of Travellers Century Club. I heared about her before and was very happy to meet her here. Jorge - I saw him last time years ago in Magadan - took me to the unknown places in his city - the hidden church of St Anna, stylish Obama travellers bar, Musical Palace... What a people, what a day!
In the morning I had enough time to go again and see Temple od Sagrada Familia -the icon of Barcelona. Sorry - like 16 years ago it is surrounded by construction cranes. Disappointing! But yes, they charge 18 eu for the ticket to see interior. First available entry - after 3 hours waiting this morning.
In the afternoon I am boarding the ship. Internet from the ship in VERY expensive, but maybe I will contact you from the ports...
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Sep 29, 2016 06:00 PM Barcelona after 16 years...
Low-cost flight landed in BCN late in the evening. There is a bus stop right in front of terminal 2 but no ticket vending machine. To buy your cheap T-10 ticket for city transport (10 rides, 9,95 euro) you have to run via overground passage to the train station with all your stuff! I was afraid I will be late for the last bus PR1 at 22.50. Sweaty but lucky I finally boarded thebus and some 15 min later very helpful driver dropped me near my Hostal Cal Siles. Clean single with bath outside costs 20 euros and sybway starion is on the other side of the street. Very good choice for late arrival!
I the morning I took bus 165 to the center of Barcelona. Lovely sun, 25 deg Celsius... From Plaza Espania I climbed to the gardens of Montjuic. From the castle there is a lovely view of the port and old town.
Then I passed Columbus monument, walking all the way famous Rambla... Memories...
In the afternoon I visited quite new place: by sybway-funicular- minibus I went to the top of another mountain facing Barcelona from the north - Tibidabo. At the top there is nice church (lower church has ornate decoration, upper - the terrace with a view of the city). In the streets there are much more tourists then 16 years ago. But Barcelona still has a charm... Very busy, but great day!
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Sep 28, 2016 06:00 PM New, relaxing voyage...
Today I start a new, relaxing voyage! After harsh conditions of Siberia I think I need to slow down little bit :). I will be sailing by ship to the islands and ports of the Mediterranean. Backpacker on the cruise ship? Yes, this way is cheaper then flying island to island! At the beginning of the route - in Barcelona I hope to meet my friends - prominent globetrotters from our 7 Continents Club. While on the ship I'll share one low-cost cabin with my old friends from Australia. And when they will say goodbye in Piraeus, I will sail - already alone - by ferry to Santorini and Crete to face, among others, the famous Samaria Gorge. In Gdansk I should be back on October 20th. Short news from the route you will find in my travel log - if I'll find somewhere free internet access :)
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Sep 26, 2016 06:00 PM Harvesting in Wojtkówka
Meanwhile, in my Wojtkówka it came time to harvest fruits and vegetables. Many of them were already in the summer on the table Wojtkówki or distributed to my friends. Others - including shapely cabbage are still waiting for to be harvested in October. As usual apple trees gave a nice crop, including an old "Anthon apple" - giving birth to the big fruits that are best for preserves. Several boxes were already deposited in the basement. Late varieties are harvested only after my return from a next trip.
I had plenty of visitors this summer, including my friends and guests from international organizations. That's because this is exactly the time when they can find me in Poland. I hosted young Ukrainians, then group of Russians and then Servas visitors from North California and Honolulu...
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Sep 17, 2016 06:00 PM The voyage to the North is completed!
Yes, the flights of Rossiya airline were on time. In Kaliningrad I caught the airport- to - city bus to be at the station just 25 minutes before international bus departure to Poland...
Border crossing post was almost empty and the officers lazy...
Warm, sunny day - I am back in the summer!
I enjoyed beautiful sunset when we were approaching Gdansk.
One more great voyage out of the beaten track is completed.
Hard to prepare because the distance and Russian bureaucracy but very rewarding. It is time to say thank to many many known and unknown people I met on this trail: all my hosts and companions from the crowded cabins of the river ships and train compartnents. This was a chance to listen many interesting stories and to share my knowledge about the world with the friendly Russians. Today they celebrate elections. Let's youcr choice will bring you the improvment in your hard life, dear friends! Until the next time!
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Sep 16, 2016 06:00 PM Goodbye Mr Lenin!
The main square in Arkhangelsk is still called Lenin Square and the huge monument of the hero still stands in the middle. I asked locals what do they think now about Lenin. It seems that society is divided. Some of them still adore him...
It was 7.30 in the morning and only 8 deg. Celsius when I said goodbye to my Russian friends. Thank you so much for your hospitality! They offered me to take a taxi to the airport - it costs 300-400 roubles. But as you know I am the budget traveller. So the best solution is to take city bus to the center (21 rou) an then bus no 12 going to Talagi Airport. 42 rou instead 400 - good deal! Just go well in advance because no.12 is not so frequent! Talagi is not busy airport. Staff is very nice, speaks basic English and there is free and non- registered wi-fi. The St Petersburg flight should be on time. In St Peter I will catch Kaliningrad flight (60 min for connection) and if in Kaliningrad I will be able to catch the bus from the station to Poland I should be at home in the evening :) - ready for the next voyage... If, if... Let's hope. Goodbye Mr. Lenin!
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Sep 15, 2016 06:00 PM Malyje Kariely - open air museum
It is located 25 km south of Arkhangelsk along the North Dvina river. City bus no.104 will take you there for 54 roubles each way. Once on the last stop you will see the gate on the left sude of the road. It is worth to pay 200 rou entry fee to spend there 2 to 3 hours enjoying the samples of countryside wooden architecture taken here from whole Russian North. There are windmills, orthodox churches and chapels, granaries and of course different types of houses. Ladies in the national costumes are ready to explain the details, but you have to understand Russian. Specially nice is the Tserkov Voznesenya church with great iconostasis. You can take there pictures and video recording for free...
In the afternoon I returned to Arkhangelsk to enjoy the walk in the sun on the promenade near Sea-River passenger terminal. The soviet-time glory of this place is over, but you ca still see there an ols steamer "Gogol" from 1911 and few powerful icebreakers. And just near this place they build huge Arkhangel Michael temple - soon it will be the symbol of Arkhangelsk - the city who has the ambition to be the capital of the Russian North
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Sep 14, 2016 06:00 PM Gala - the best conductor...
During the day, the night and the morning we passed 60 stations... Gala and me. She is the best conductor I met on Russian railways: helpful, informative, clean, kind and... she smiles! I was really sad to say her bye-bye in Arkhangelsk station.
The city - famous as a destination of convoys during WW2 lies on huge North Dvina river some 45 kms from the White Sea. 350 000 people live here. The nicest buildings are located on the river promenade or very close to the rivefront. They build at the moment many modern buildings in this area including a new, huge orthodox temple. In 2 years or so this quarter will look like a modern metropolis made of concrete and glass. They have already MacDonald, Subway and other western brands. But out of the central ring you will see quite different landscape - 2 storey old, grey timber houses surrounded by weeds and sorry - the garbage too. Are the locals so poor that they cannot buy a paint and made their environment nicer? It is probably because the houses are property of the state... People are nice and helpful. It is easy to travel around using the cheap city buses (21 rou for ride). In every bus you will find conductor, so no need to buy tickets in advance. They will tell you where to get off...
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